Three men charged with burglary

Fourth suspect sought by police

November 12, 2012

At about 7 p.m. Sunday, an off-duty Cape Coral police officer noticed a suspicious person walking around a driveway in the 1300 block of Southwest 22nd Place, according to officials. The officer also saw a dark Chevrolet suburban driving slowly in the neighborhood.

The officer's training and experience led him to believe that the two were related and that they were possibly committing burglaries in the area. The officer called the station to report the incident and police responded.

Officers arrived in the area and within minutes the suburban was spotted. Police attempted to pull the truck over to investigate, but the suburban fled at a high rate of speed attempting to elude the officers, officials reported.

Article Photos

Ryan Townsend

Ryan Townsend Jr.

Blake Deantoni-Rummo

Officers followed the vehicle until the truck pulled over in the 2100 block of Southwest 22nd Terrace.

The occupants in the vehicle got out and tried to flee, according to officials. The driver, Ryan Townsend, 45, of 42 Egland Drive, Fort Myers, and the front passenger, Ryan Townsend Jr., 18, of 2041 N.W. 27th Terrace, were detained.

Officers set up a perimeter around the area and began to search for the remaining two people.

While on perimeter duty, an officer was approached by a neighbor who told police that he was the victim of a burglary. The victim was at a neighbor's home when he noticed the police activity near his home, so he returned to check on his residence. When he arrived, he discovered that his side garage door had been pried open.

A check revealed that several items had been taken, including a laptop, two rifles and a pressure washer.

Officers were able to locate the rifles a short distance from the abandoned suburban and the pressure washer was found in the back of the truck, officials reported.

K-9 officers began to track for the two remaining people. Blake Deantoni-Rummo, 25, of 2924 N.W. 17th Place, was tracked to an area several blocks away hiding in some bushes. He was taken into custody with the Townsends.

All three men were arrested and charged with loitering and prowling, burglary, grand theft, fleeing and eluding police and resisting arrest. They were booked and transported to the Lee County Jail.

The fourth man has been identified and detectives are actively looking for him. Police do not believe that he is in the neighborhood where the other men were apprehended, according to officials.